Category Archives: business

Police bust plot to sell fake artwork purportedly by Rembrandt, Picasso

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A major international plot involving the sale of suspected forged paintings by renowned artists has been uncovered, police announced on Friday. The scheme spanned three countries and involved fake works attributed to masters such as Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, and Frida Kahlo.

The main suspect, a 77-year-old German man, allegedly attempted to sell 20 counterfeit paintings. These included purported pieces by Flemish old master Peter Paul Rubens, Spanish artist Joan Miró, and Italian sculptor Amedeo Modigliani. Authorities in Bavaria revealed that he was assisted by 10 accomplices in the operation.

Investigators first grew suspicious when the suspect tried to sell two alleged original Picasso paintings on the art market. One of these artworks depicted Dora Maar, a French photographer, painter, and poet who was Picasso’s most famous muse, according to BBC News.

The police stated that the man subsequently sought to sell *De Staalmeesters*, a famous oil painting by Rembrandt, for 120 million Swiss francs (approximately $150 million). However, the original painting is permanently displayed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The copy, believed to have been made in the 20th century, was found in the possession of an 84-year-old Swiss woman who is now also under investigation.

“After examination by an art expert, it was confirmed that the painting was indeed a copy and not a lost masterpiece by Rembrandt van Rijn,” police reported, as cited by BBC.

The fake paintings were being offered at prices ranging from 400,000 euros to about 130 million euros (roughly $465,000 to $150 million), police said in a statement.

Last week, authorities conducted coordinated searches in multiple locations across southern Germany, Berlin, several areas in Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. During these raids, the main suspect and another German man, aged 74, were arrested. The second suspect is accused of preparing forged authenticity reports for the artworks. Both men have since been released on bail.

Police confirmed that all confiscated paintings will undergo detailed examination by experts and appraisers over the coming weeks to assess their authenticity.

This extensive investigation highlights the ongoing challenges art markets face with forged masterpieces, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and expert scrutiny.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/art-forgeries-plot-bust-germany-police-rembrandt-picasso-frida-kahlo/

The best gaming keyboards we’ve reviewed in 2025 so far

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Here are the top 10 gaming keyboards we’ve tested ourselves.

Choosing the right gaming keyboard can elevate your gameplay and provide the precision and comfort you need during intense sessions. After thorough testing and evaluation, we’ve compiled a list of the best gaming keyboards currently available.

Whether you prefer mechanical switches for tactile feedback, customizable RGB lighting to match your setup, or additional programmable keys for shortcuts, our selection covers a variety of features to suit different gaming styles.

Read on to discover which gaming keyboards made the cut and find the perfect match for your gaming rig.
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-keyboards/the-best-gaming-keyboards-weve-reviewed-in-2025-so-far/

Top 3 Cryptos to Invest in 2025: Best Picks for Short-Term Gains

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With the 2025 market cycle gaining momentum as the year races to a close, investors are seeking outsized returns before year-end. Among many contenders, three crypto assets stand out as strong candidates for short-term gains: Little Pepe, Provenance Blockchain, and Ethena. Each offers a distinct proposition, and collectively they may form a balanced speculative basket.

### Little Pepe (LILPEPE)

Little Pepe is fighting above its weight class. Now in its presale Stage 13 and priced at about $0.0022, it has already raised over $27.1 million and sold more than 16.5 billion tokens. The narrative is powerful: investors are flocking to a meme-token that claims actual infrastructure, a Layer-2 EVM-compatible chain built to support low-fee, fast transactions, bringing back the viral energy of early meme-coins.

What makes Little Pepe especially compelling for short-term upside is its positioning. The presale is near sell-out, creating scarcity; the listing could trigger a sharp price reaction; and the meme narrative is reinforcing momentum. Analysts have highlighted the project’s potential to deliver large multiples in a market that rewards novelty plus utility.

Of course, this also comes with elevated risk. Presales are inherently speculative, liquidity events can invite volatility, and success hinges on execution and listing performance. But if the listing ignites as many anticipate, Little Pepe stands out as a high-beta bet that could deliver outsized returns in a compressed time frame.

### Provenance Blockchain (HASH)

Unlike many speculative tokens, HASH is not just a symbol of hype but a utility token that powers chain fees, governance, and network operations. Currently, HASH trades in low decimals (around $0.03–$0.04) per CoinGecko data, reflecting its early-stage market status.

Because of its modest valuation base, positive developments or adoption events may translate into relatively large percentage gains. Markets often undervalue many infrastructure chains until a tipping point, so even moderate utility adoption or listing news could catalyze a material jump.

Analysts anticipate that HASH may gain visibility through exchange listings and real-world use cases, particularly in the tokenization of assets. For short-term gains, HASH may act as a semi-bridge between speculative and pragmatic plays. If momentum triggers across the infrastructure narrative, HASH could draw interest from traders seeking underappreciated rails rather than pure meme assets.

In that mix, HASH may offer upside that is less exposed to sentiment swings yet still capable of sharp upward moves.

### Ethena (ENA)

Ethena flips the script. Rather than chasing viral gains, it addresses a structural inefficiency in crypto finance: how to deliver scalable, censorship-resistant ‘dollar’ currency within DeFi.

The protocol issues USDe, a synthetic dollar built using crypto-asset hedging mechanisms, and the native governance token ENA enables participation in protocol decisions. While not designed for wild short-term pumps like meme coins, Ethena’s value proposition lies in its under-the-radar potential.

As DeFi users and protocols seek alternatives to fiat-backed stablecoins, Ethena may capture attention. The recent announcement of a $1.5 billion issuance of USDtb by Anchorage under the “Genius Act” suggests Ethena is moving toward institutional relevance.

For investors targeting short-term gains, Ethena represents a lower-beta but still exciting alternative: if the story gains momentum, the move could unfold quickly. It’s a different kind of play, less about hype, more about structural opportunity.

### Framing a Balanced Speculative Portfolio

In a short-term gain context, these three each bring differentiated exposures:

– **Little Pepe** may deliver explosive returns if meme cycles reboot and ecosystem momentum holds.
– **HASH** offers a lower-volatility infrastructure bet with upside tied to adoption and listings.
– **Ethena** bridges into DeFi revenue models and synthetic finance, attracting capital seeking yield plus protocol growth.

A strategy may allocate more toward the highest upside (Little Pepe) while retaining exposure to HASH and ENA to hedge against meme faddishness or regulatory headwinds.

### Conclusion

The 2025 cycle may reward those who identify projects that combine narrative strength with tangible mechanism design. Little Pepe stands out as a meme play with infrastructure ambition and presale momentum. Provenance Blockchain (HASH) offers a token rooted in financial rails infrastructure, providing leverage to adoption. Ethena seeks to harness DeFi’s revenue pathways while introducing synthetic monetary innovation.

Investors aiming for short-term gains should watch how each acts on its milestones. Those drawn to high upside may favor Little Pepe, while others may balance across HASH and ENA.

For more information about Little Pepe (LILPEPE), visit the links below:
[Insert relevant links here]
https://coinpedia.org/press-release/top-3-cryptos-to-invest-in-2025-best-picks-for-short-term-gains/

Lumen and Palantir Team Up to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

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**Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies Announce Multi-Year Partnership to Advance Enterprise AI Adoption**

Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies have entered into a multi-year, multi-million-dollar strategic partnership aimed at accelerating enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across multi-cloud environments. Announced Thursday, the collaboration combines the strengths of two U.S.-based firms: Lumen’s advanced networking capabilities and Palantir’s cutting-edge data and AI platforms.

The partnership addresses one of the most pressing challenges for enterprises today—deploying AI securely and efficiently across multiple cloud systems. Together, the companies plan to offer tested, ready-to-deploy AI frameworks capable of handling the complexities of hybrid data architectures. Their joint goal is to reduce IT complexity, strengthen data security, and enhance operational agility as businesses increasingly transition toward AI-driven decision-making.

### Leveraging Strengths Across Multi-Cloud Infrastructure

Lumen, renowned for its Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF), intends to integrate Palantir’s Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) into its network infrastructure. This synergy is designed to give enterprises greater control over data movement across diverse environments while maintaining compliance and high performance.

Lumen highlights that its PCF achieves edge latency as low as 5 milliseconds and throughput of up to 400 Gbps—offering reportedly 60% more capacity than legacy fiber networks. However, the company has not yet released detailed information on coverage maps, cloud on-ramps, or service-level agreements (SLAs)—critical factors for enterprises assessing AI deployment costs.

Despite this, Lumen executives emphasize that the network’s digitally activated, modular design provides flexibility to build AI-ready infrastructures tailored to each customer’s unique requirements.

### Palantir’s Expanding AI Ecosystem

For Palantir, this partnership marks another milestone in its rapidly growing AI collaboration strategy. The company’s AIP platform is engineered to operate seamlessly across hybrid and multi-cloud systems. Its integrations with technologies such as Databricks’ Unity Catalog and Delta Sharing enable real-time data sharing fortified with robust security layers—capabilities that Lumen can now enhance through its high-speed private network.

Industry observers suggest that system integrators (SIs)—firms that design and manage large-scale IT systems—could leverage this partnership to bridge the gaps between Lumen’s connectivity solutions and Palantir’s AI stack. These third-party providers may offer managed services and accelerators to extend AI capabilities to more complex enterprise workloads.

### Questions Around Transparency and Scalability

Despite the promising outlook, some analysts have raised concerns regarding transparency and scalability. While Lumen reportedly achieved $350 million in internal cost reductions by using Palantir’s platforms, it remains unclear whether similar benefits will materialize for enterprise customers.

Moreover, the absence of clear throughput benchmarks and latency guarantees may pose challenges for potential buyers trying to evaluate the long-term value of the partnership. As a result, each AI deployment could require individual negotiation based on workload types, cloud preferences, and compliance demands.

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This strategic alliance between Lumen Technologies and Palantir Technologies aims to simplify AI deployment across multi-cloud environments, combining network infrastructure with advanced AI platforms. However, enterprises considering this solution await further details to assess its true scalability and performance assurances.
https://coincentral.com/lumen-palantir-partnership-enterprise-ai-adoption/

“We need each other”: Spire co-owner on signing Daniel Suarez for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season

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**Spire Motorsports Co-Owner Jeff Dickerson Hopes for a ‘Good Story of Redemption’ with Daniel Suarez Signing**

After months of speculation, Daniel Suarez has officially secured a 2026 seat with Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 7 Ford. The Monterrey native, who was recently released from Trackhouse Racing to make room for 19-year-old prodigy Connor Zilisch, now replaces Justin Haley, whose underwhelming performance this season included just two top-10 finishes in 34 starts.

Suarez has shown stronger results this year with seven top-10s, although he has also recorded nine DNFs, making him the second most crash-prone driver this season. Despite this, Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson is optimistic about the future. He believes next year offers both Suarez and the team a fresh start and an opportunity to prove their doubters wrong.

“It’s just the thing where I think we need each other. I think all of us love a good story of redemption and giving people a platform to prove doubters wrong,” Dickerson shared. He also highlighted Suarez’s near victories this season, noting the driver finished second twice — at Las Vegas and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.

In his five-year tenure with Trackhouse, Suarez made history as the first Mexican-born driver to capture two Cup Series wins, driving the No. 99 car.

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**“Wasn’t Looking at Spire Motorsports as an Option”: Daniel Suarez Opens Up on New Signing**

Daniel Suarez spoke candidly about his initial views of Spire Motorsports before joining the team. A two-time Xfinity Series champion, Suarez has competed with top-tier outfits like Joe Gibbs Racing and Trackhouse Racing prior to this move.

Reflecting on Spire’s growth over the past three years, Suarez said, “I mentioned this to Jeff, three years ago I probably wasn’t looking at Spire Motorsports as an option. Right now, I believe that this is the fastest-growing team in NASCAR, and I want to be part of that. I know that they are not even close to being done.”

Spire Motorsports has confirmed that the partnership with Suarez is a long-term commitment. For the upcoming season, the 33-year-old driver will join Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, completing the team’s three-car lineup.

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**Looking Ahead: Team Dynamics and Driver Performances**

Carson Hocevar, in his sophomore season with Spire, has shown promising speed. He finished sixth in the recent playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, while teammate Michael McDowell earned the Busch Light pole position for the same event.

Though Hocevar has notched two runner-up finishes this year, his aggressive driving style has sparked several controversies. Notably, repeated clashes with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. escalated into a heated feud that nearly became physical.

As Spire Motorsports prepares for the upcoming season with a refreshed roster, all eyes will be on how Suarez adapts to his new environment and whether the team can turn their shared ambitions into tangible success on the track.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nascar/news-we-need-other-spire-co-owner-signing-daniel-suarez-2026-nascar-cup-series-season

Alaska Air Non-GAAP EPS of $1.05 misses by $0.05, revenue of $3.77B beats by $10M

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Alaska Air Reports Q3 Earnings: Non-GAAP EPS Misses Estimates, Revenue Beats Expectations

On October 23, 2025, Alaska Air Group, Inc. released its third-quarter financial results. The company reported a Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $1.05, missing analysts’ estimates by $0.05.

Despite the slight earnings miss, Alaska Air posted revenue of $3.77 billion, surpassing expectations by $10 million.

Investors are closely watching the stock’s performance, with recent trading activity showing notable trends. For more information on related stocks and market analysis, stay tuned to the latest updates.

Symbol: ALK
Company: Alaska Air Group, Inc.
Previous Close: [Insert value]
Short Interest: [Insert value]
Last Price: [Insert value]
% Change: [Insert value]
https://seekingalpha.com/news/4508038-alaska-air-non-gaap-eps-of-105-misses-by-005-revenue-of-377b-beats-by-10m?utm_source=feed_news_all&utm_medium=referral&feed_item_type=news

1996 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab Power Stroke 4×4

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This 1996 Ford F-250 XLT SuperCab pickup comes with 133,000 miles on the odometer and has a documented registration history in Texas and Colorado. The seller purchased the truck in May 2025.

Powering this truck is a 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 engine, factory rated at 215 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a limited-slip rear differential with 4.10:1 gearing. An engine block heater is also equipped. Recent maintenance includes the replacement of the camshaft position sensor and fuel filter in May 2024, as well as an oil change in August 2025.

The exterior is finished in Oxford White and features 16-inch eight-hole alloy wheels fitted with Mastercraft Courser Trail tires installed in August 2025. Additional equipment includes a front brush guard, a receiver hitch, tubular side steps, an aftermarket rear bumper, chrome bed rail caps, a diamond-plate truck bed toolbox, and an in-bed trailer plug. There is noted damage to the left side of the bed, and the frame shows some signs of corrosion.

Braking is managed by power-assisted front disc brakes and rear drum brakes equipped with ABS. The front brake pads were replaced in August 2025 for added safety and reliability.

Inside, the cabin is trimmed in Opal Gray cloth and offers a front bench seat and rear bench seat. The interior styling is complemented by a color-coordinated dashboard and door panels. Comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, a trailer brake controller, and a cassette stereo. Carhartt seat covers protect the front seats, and a cloth gun rack has been installed on the roof.

The instrument cluster features an 85-mph speedometer, a tachometer, and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, voltage, and fuel level. The digital odometer reads 133,000 miles, approximately 5,000 of which were added under the current ownership.

This Ford F-250 is being offered with a service invoice, a clean Carfax report free of accidents or other damage, and a clean Colorado title in the seller’s name. This truck represents a solid example of a well-maintained, classic Super Duty pickup with robust diesel power and useful features for work or recreation.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1996-ford-f-250-156/

EA Jumps Headfirst Into AI Hype Train Immediately After Acquisition

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EA was only recently acquired by private investment firms, and the company is already positioning itself to go all-in on using generative AI as part of its development process. The publisher just announced a “strategic partnership” with Stability AI, one of the largest players in the generative AI space, to integrate their technology into EA’s development pipeline. This move was always part of the plan following the acquisition.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson made the company’s commitment to generative AI crystal clear last year, signaling that this technology will be key in cutting costs and recouping some of the $55 billion spent on the acquisition by private investors, including Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

### EA Is Trying Generative AI Again

This isn’t the first time EA has attempted to integrate generative AI into its development processes. Their existing chatbot model, ReefGPT, has reportedly had issues with hallucinations—generating erroneous outputs that can lead to costly and time-consuming errors in code.

Despite these setbacks, Stability AI and EA are making ambitious claims about how generative AI can improve creative workflows. They are deliberately emphasizing the importance of creativity in game development, seemingly ignoring the broader concerns about generative AI’s impact on artists and creatives across industries.

In their announcement, EA compares generative AI to traditional procedural automation found in games, such as real-time physics simulation and automatic pathfinding. However, this analogy misses the core issues many people have with generative AI technology.

Even previous attempts to integrate AI into EA’s games have met with limited success, to put it mildly.

### Industry-Wide AI Adoption

EA is not alone in its dedication to generative AI. The technology has become relatively common in the Japanese gaming industry. Blizzard has echoed EA’s optimistic rhetoric, stating generative AI can “free up more time for people to be creative.” Similarly, just recently, Krafton announced plans for a “complete reorganization” to become more fully reliant on AI.

Over the last year, there have been less obvious but widespread signs of generative AI’s influence across the games industry, indicating a broader shift toward this technology despite ongoing challenges and controversies.
https://www.dualshockers.com/ea-jumps-headfirst-into-ai-hype-train-immediately-after-acquisition/

Despite gov’t shutdown, crypto market structure bill ‘90% there’ — Coinbase CEO

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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has expressed optimism that US senators are moving closer to advancing key cryptocurrency market structure legislation by Thanksgiving. He suggested that there is now far more agreement across both sides of the aisle than differences.

“Even though the government is shut down, the Senate is working hard on getting market structure legislation passed for crypto,” Armstrong said in a video posted on X.

According to Armstrong, roughly 90% of the legislative framework has already been agreed upon, with the remaining 10% focused on issues like decentralized finance (DeFi). He added that policymakers are looking for ways to protect innovation while ensuring that “centralized intermediaries, like Coinbase, should be regulated, not the protocols.”

Armstrong also underscored the importance of “preserving stablecoin rewards” following the passage of the GENIUS Act earlier this year. The Act set federal standards for stablecoin reserves, transparency, and consumer protections.

“The big banks are coming for their cash grab, trying to block that,” Armstrong said. “We’re not going to let them re-litigate that.”

### Banking Lobby Pushback on the GENIUS Act

Armstrong’s criticism of the banking industry comes amid strong opposition from many lobbyists to the GENIUS stablecoin act, particularly over what they view as a loophole allowing interest payments.

While the GENIUS Act explicitly prohibits stablecoin issuers from offering interest or yield, this restriction does not apply to exchanges, according to the Bank Policy Institute (BPI). By excluding crypto exchanges like Coinbase, “the requirements in the GENIUS Act can be easily evaded and undermined by allowing payment of interest indirectly to holders of stablecoins,” the BPI stated.

As reported by Cointelegraph, banking lobbies have grown increasingly concerned that stablecoins could threaten their traditional business model, which currently offers depositors minimal interest.

Industry insider and New York University professor Austin Campbell noted that bankers are “panicking” over the prospect of stablecoin holders earning yields.

—

**Related:** Boom in RWA Tokenization Expected After Passing of GENIUS Act
https://cointelegraph.com/news/brian-armstrong-senate-crypto-legislation-genius-act-stablecoin?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Wings closing in on giving Paige Bueckers new head coach

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After a disappointing season for the Dallas Wings, the team decided to part ways with head coach Chris Koclanes. Following the conclusion of the year, the Wings began their search for a new leader to guide the team forward.

Now, it appears they have identified his successor. Reports indicate that USF’s Jose Fernandez is next in line for the head coaching position, according to SB Nation’s Mitchell Northam.

“According to multiple sources, the Dallas Wings are zeroing in on USF’s Jose Fernandez to be their next head coach. Deal could be finalized as early as today,” Northam wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fernandez was among the candidates mentioned during the coaching search, and his consideration comes as no surprise given his impressive accomplishments at USF.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
https://clutchpoints.com/wnba/dallas-wings/wings-news-dallas-giving-paige-bueckers-new-head-coach